Summer 2022 - the show is on

It's summer and it's showtime once again! I have been sent lots of pictures of cars making it to shows in the last month or so and share some of the best of these here, together with some more bits and pieces that may interest you folk. I hope you'll enjoy them - and keep those pictures coming. 

Over in Australia this Jem was spotted last month by a friend of Ogle owner Neil Griffin. Neil wrote: "Jeroen, a friend who now lives in South Australia saw this at an impromptu car show over there." 

I think it's a Taylorspeed built car?

Picture via Neil Griffin

Neil Kilbane of Ireland spotted this 1977 Jimini Mk1 "Came upon it at a car boot sale about 25km from me. The guy said he had it for 20 years but never had it on the road. He was looking for €3500 for it!"

Picture Neil Kilbane

Not one but two Mini Ice cream vans with 'Batman' bodies by Whitby Morrison. One of them is owned by Andy McPail, who took this picture on a show at the British Motor Heritage Centre in Gaydon

Picture Andy McPhail

US reader Burton Reif attended the Mini Meet West in Kingston, Washington with his Ranger Cub, which he drove from Portland Oregon (previously seen here). He was surprised to see a Mini Marcos Mk4 driven all the way from Sacramento, California!

Picture Burton Reif

And a picture from the other side, giving a better view on Burton's Ranger. This photo was taken by the Marcos' owner Michael Kimball who is a keen Mini Marcos promotor in the US

Picture Michael Kimball

Three coachbuilts in a row! Gorgeous Radford Mini De Villes left and right with a Wood & Pickett Mini Margrave in between them, all three absolutely stunning cars owned by one and the same enthusiast

Picture George Knight

Mini Jem racer Pete Crudgington took this picture at Castle Combe of his own racer (left) back to back to the Mini Marcos Mk3 of Sam Polley. Both race in the CSCC Swinging 60’s Series

Picture Pete Crudgington

Ever saw a Status 365 from the underside? I hadn't! Stimson-fan Paul Wylde took this picture while his mate's Status was placed on the lift for some work to be carried out

Picture Paul Wylde

Another Mosquito came out of its hiding in July. Damien Lescroart wrote: "I knew about the existence of this Mosquito for years but never found any info or pictures of it. It appeared today"

Picture via Damien Lescroart

Mark Glasher's pretty Unipower GT made it to the prestigious concours d'elegance of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. It came out in a class for mid-engined 1960s cars

 Picture DrGrumoLunatic / Youtube

A well-used Birchall McCoy was seen at a show not far from my place in The Netherlands recently. It's the only McCoy that I have ever heard of in my country, and I really should have been there!

Picture Erik van den Eijnden

Also in The Netherlands, this Ogle SX1000 is in for a brake overhaul. Oh, hang on, it's my own car!

The full Cooper 'S' braking system was incomplete and clogged but works fine again by now

Picture Sipke Blom

Maximum Mini fan Barry Tilbury has been collecting Mini variants for years now. But it was only recently that he managed to find a place to put them all together. Scamps and more here...

Picture Barry Tilbury

...And more! Hat tip to anyone who can identify all of them under those covers, they're all Mini derivatives... Barry wrote: "When are you in the UK next I would love you to visit" Great!

Picture Barry Tilbury

Barry's latest purchase is a very interesting Mk1 Biota, which now joins the others. The car was seen here before when it was found on a peacock farm in Wales back in 2014 (click here)

Picture Barry Tilbury

Taylorspeed Jem - only 4 built says reader and Jem owner

An interesting message from Carlo Meschino of Australia, who owns an Australian built Mini Jem - number 5 from Down Under with only the first four cars built by John Taylor, he believes. Carlo wrote:

"Greetings from Adelaide, South Australia. My name is Carlo Meschino and I am the registered owner of the original Taylorspeed Jem RKP-850 built by Sigmund Kwiatkowski which was featured in the February 1974 edition of Sports Car World. I bought the car in 1977 from Sigmund who abandoned it in his back yard serving as a dog kennel where the soft interior was totally chewed up. He had bought himself a DeTomaso Pantera. The body however, is unmolested and in exceptional structural condition. As John Taylor only built 4 Taylorspeed Jems, then the one I have would be the 5th Australian built Jem and the only one to my knowledge that has provenance. I also own the rights to the registration plates RWW-019 but not the car being the original Taylorspeed Jem built by John Taylor featured in the June 1969 edition of Sports Car World."

"I met John Taylor at his Lotus dealership Taylors of Medindie in Adelaide who gave me 20 minutes of his time not long after buying mine. He was an interesting, well accomplished and very helpful person. He gave me some of the original type written documents setting out the prices for the Jem when first marketed but he had moved on. I also met Sigmund Kwiatkowski’s business partner, Neil Murrie at his Henley Beach Road Petrol Station back in the day, a real nice fellow. He had himself made his own Taylorspeed Jem for racing which was up for sale and out of my league but I was fortunate enough to score a brand new high rise bonnet to suit a Webber carburettor which was hanging off the service station workshop wall for $40.00."

"Research suggests that the John Taylor’s original car was storm damaged by cyclone Tracy in 1974 in Darwin Northern Territory, Australia and later sold with its eventual fate unknown. (see more here)"

"One of the John Taylor built Jems was shipped over to America in early 1970 as a promotional vehicle and it can be identified by its straight flat dashboard whereas the Kwiatkowski/Murrie built Jems had incorporated a curving centre console with the dashboard (that car can be seen here)."

"Other Taylorspeed Jem variants exist as a number of bodies were built and sold by Kwiatkowski locally and to interstate buyers who then rebadged the body or added further modifications such as the square bottomed rear window etc. The variant branded the Alda Jem advertised in 1970 in Sydney (click here) would have been an original John Taylor Taylorspeed Jem as Kwiatkowski/Murrie only started building Jem bodies in 1973/74."

"The original Taylorspeed moulds still in existence and show the back window or body was never changed or modified (click here). I have shown an account for three of the original John Taylor built Taylorspeed Jems and I have an inkling (but could be wrong) that the 4th car unaccounted for is the one raced by Sue Elliot in Western Australia having seen the bare body by chance when buying a cylinder head from the owner in Western Australia whilst on holidays in the late 70’s but I can’t remember if the body had the moulded centre console as part of the dashboard. Cheers Carlo."

That's quite a lot of information! Thank you for sharing Carlo, and please keep me posted on your car's restoration.

'RKP-850' was the fifth Mini Jem made in Australia, says reader Carlo Meschino

Picture Carlo Meschino

It was not made by Taylorspeed but by Sigmund Kwiakowski, who built and marketed the Jem also

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

That's Carlo's Aussie-built Jem, awaiting its restoration. He bought it in 1977 from Kwiakowski

Picture Carlo Meschino

"I also own the rights to the registration plates RWW-019 but not the car", says Carlo

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Taylorspeed Mini Jem moulds for sale - UPDATED

The moulds to produce bodies for the Taylorspeed Mini Jem have made it to the market in Australia. Phil Huxtable, who offers them for sale got in touch, writing: "Hi Jeroen. My moulds are the Australian built ones from a Jem imported from the UK. They are Mk1 Jems and all cars made here are obviously Mk1's. I have had the moulds for about 20 years and I have made 2 cars. In total 12 cars have been made from the moulds. They are complete with a drilling jig and roof holding frame. There are many parts to the moulds including dash, doors (2 sets), bonnet (2 different styles), seat, inside, under and various bolt-in parts. There are about 33 separate mould parts of various size. This is the only complete Mk1 set in the world. I am only getting rid of them because being 70, I can't see me using them much more. I estimate there is over A$7000 in fibre glass alone plus labour to make frames for main mould and drilling jig. Also you may notice that I have removed the bulge in the tunnel for the 850 starter button. Makes a neater plan."

"I also send you some pictures of my 2 Jems, made out of the moulds. The orange Jem has a 1300 Mini engine, the black one a 1300 turbo twin cam Toyota engine and 5-speed gearbox. Phil."

Parties interested can get in touch here.

Two Mini Jems made by Phil from the Taylorspeed moulds he now offers for sale

Picture Phil Huxtable

Plan to built Mini Jems yourself? Then this set of moulds is a must-have 

Picture Phil Huxtable

Just 12 Mini Jems have been made from this set, which seems to be still in a good condition

Picture Phil Huxtable

With the set of moulds also comes a drilling jig and all the parts necessary 

Picture Phil Huxtable

According to Phil the set consists of about 33 separate mould parts of various size

Picture Phil Huxtable

Nose section can be fitted with two different bonnet styles, both available

Picture Phil Huxtable

Wide wheel arches come separately also, so it's up to you to fit these on the car 

Picture Phil Huxtable

One of the two cars that Phil built from the set uses a 1300 Mini engine...

Picture Phil Huxtable

...While the other one comes with Toyota-sourced 1300 with turbo and twin cam 

Picture Phil Huxtable

UPDATE 24 September 2020: 

I've had a number of enquiries and got back to Phil about these. His reply: "Actually it is all happening quicker than I imagined it would be. I would like to do a couple of things prior to it going. I need to pop out a spare body for me. Hopefully my cars will remain damage free so the spare will just sit in the corner. I have had enquiries for an order for a body from down here in OZ. However we are just talking.  I also wanted to test the Japanese market for the moulds. So I would like to advertise there too. My neighbor is Japanese and she is going to write an add for me to send to Japan (your article may well end up in Japan anyway). So I can't see me letting the moulds go before the end of the year. I am in a position that if I get a good fair price I would be willing to sell them. I am in no urgency to sell. Some people may say does he want to sell them or not. I'm open to selling them, HOWEVER I'm not bothered if they sell or not. They can sit in my new shed, undercover, on concrete, covered over and secure. I'm not going to give them away. As for the price, is very hard to put a specific price. Many opinions and suggestions. I have a price in mind, just think of it as a reserve that I don't want to disclose at the moment. I will let the market dictate a value. That is, the moulds will be sold by offer. You have done great work and I appreciate it, you were very interested and efficient, as I have dealt with people who normally take months to get things done. People can contact me directly or through you. Depends on whether you want to be bothered. I thank you for all your help and assistance with this."

Was Australia's first Mini Jem really buried?

Australia has its fair share of Mini derivatives history, the Min i Jem being one of the cars that were built locally. Enthusiast Duane De Gruchy runs a Facebook page dedicated to Australian cars and asked himself recently what happened to the first of the Jems, registered 'RWW 019', which came to Australia and led to the Taylorspeed variant.

 

Jim Swan reacted and wrote: "I owned it for a few years. I traded a Cooper 'S' in in Adelaide in 1972 and drove or maybe flew the car back to Darwin. Except for putting a Weber carburetor on it I left it as it was. I had it painted a British racing Green with a lace painted bonnet. As per the photo I entered in the drags which used to be held at WW2 airstrip 33 miles south of Darwin. The car was in a shed in Darwin when cyclone Tracy came in 1974 and it was damaged by a tree but not too badly. Stupidly in 1975 I sold the car for $400 to a guy called Phil Miller and I have not heard of what happened to it. Jokingly I hope, I was told that he buried it so not one else could ever have it. If anyone has a clue as to where it is now please let me know. I only discovered the photo about 9 months ago which was in someone else's album. All my photos were lost in the cyclone."

'RWW 019' was the first (Taylorspeed) Mini Jem that was driven on Australia's roads

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

The car was widely advertised and used for promotional purposes

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And it was raced, too, by manufacturer John Taylor. Here at Mallala in South Australia

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And at Mallala again... a beautiful action shot which I simply had to share here

Picture Peter Knights

But where is it now? It was last seen when owned by Jim Swan, who sold it in 1975

Rumour has it the car was buried, but that surely must be a joke..?

Picture Jim Swan 

What was the Alda Jem?

An interesting message came from Dave Transom who lives in Australia. You may have heard of the Aussie-built Taylorspeed Mini Jem, but Dave comes up with a possible new variant: the Alda Jem. He wrote:

"Hi Jeroen, I was looking at Maximum Mini and noticed you posted about the moulds for the Mini Jem going up for sale in Sydney. In the 1970s I bought a car in Sydney which was badged Alda Jem. The badge was round, on the front of the car, there was some kind of graphic as well, but I don’t recall what it was. This was a Mini Jem, and I am guessing that it was locally produced. I don’t have any pictures, it was a long time ago, maybe 1972-3? But I definitely remember the Alda Jem badge, and I seem to recall being told by the person I got it from that it was made in Adelaide. I did see another one a few years later, but never got to speak to the owner. So it wasn’t just a Taylorspeed with a one off badge on it. Is it possible that these were someone’s attempt to go into production or a badge from a dealer?"

"When I got it the car was minus its powerplant. I had an 850 which I put in and was amazed by the performance, I think it ended up with a 1275, even better. I eventually sold it to a friend, who took it back to his hometown in the country. His older brother told him he had wasted his money, and persuaded him to strip it. Funny thing, all the adjustable racing suspension, wheels and good engine and box ended up in the brother’s car. I did see the steering wheel on my friend’s car. Last I heard the body was sitting out in the weather on their farm."

"I was wondering if you knew anything about them? Recently I found this ad with one for sale. Mine was missing the powerplant and rear window, but did have fully adjustable suspension and mag wheels. Perhaps this was the car I bought, I don’t know… It is possible it was a one-off, and the advertised car, my car, and the one I later saw in Sydney (although a different colour) are all the same. Have you ever heard of this variant? Cheers, Dave Transom."

I haven't! And couldn't find anything on them in the files either. Perhaps one of my readers will be able to shed a light on this one? Some of the pictures below have been posted on the excellent 'Aussie Independents and Fibreglass Car Community Group'.

The ad from The Canberra Times, December 1970

Picture via Dave Transom

There's no doubt about this being an Australian built Taylorspeed Mini Jem

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And I think this is another Taylorspeed car, or is it?

Picture Tony Shaw / AIFCCG

Another Jem in Australia. A Taylorspeed? Or a later one? Or an Alda Jem?

Picture Tony Shaw / AIFCCG

Note small rear screen and rear spoiler

Picture Tony Shaw / AIFCCG

This wide Mini Jem is raced by Philip Huxtable in Australia

Picture Geoffrey Nowak / AIFCCG

Seasons greetings

Tomorrow you'll find the traditional Christmas puzzle on this page, but for now I already wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year with lots of Mini (based) motoring to all readers of this blog and all other Maximum Mini fans. Thank you for your support in 2015 and don't forget to vote for the 'Best Find of 2015'!

Rendering by Jeroen Booij. Cars: Taylorspeed Mini Jem and Camber GT

Taylorspeed at speed

Thanksgiving lies behind us and Christmas is on its way: ice and snow will now be soon approaching. Well, they are when you are on this side of the world. Over in the Antipodes Spring is slowly turning into Summer, with temperatures easily reaching 30 Degrees Celsius. It’s there these sunny picture were taken and the car is a local product: the Taylorspeed Mini Jem. That's the Jem built under a license in Australia in very small numbers by John Taylor of Adelaide. These photographs come from the Peter Knight archives and show the car at the Mallala Raceway in Southern Australia, probably in 1968. I think the driver has to be John Taylor himself and the car probably is the red demonstrator seen in various Australian magazines at the time. Any more information is welcomed.

Taylorspeed Mini Jem, seen here at Mallala Raceway in Australia behind another Aussie Special

Picture courtesy Peter Knight

Just two handfulls of Taylorspeed Jems were built by John Taylor, who is probably seen here

Picture courtesy Peter Knight